walking in the light of God's Word

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Day: January 21, 2019

Psalm 119:161-168
SCHIN.
161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

At this point, God’s Word has become embedded deep in the psalmist’s heart. It is something he has a deep love for, and it affects every aspect of his life. This attitude toward God’s Word changes everything else. His focus, his motives, his desires, his behavior, his choices, his heart, and his mind are all touched and transformed by his relationship to God’s Word. It is not just a list of commandments, but a witness of God, a testimony of who He is, revealing His character, His person, and His heart. As a result, the psalmist has made the commitment to live totally for God.

What kinds of things are produced, then, from a deepening relationship with God’s Word? First of all, it produces awe. God’s Word is something that will continually amaze us. It is a well that never runs dry. There is always something more to discover. It is beyond the typical, the ordinary, and the expected. It also produces joy. It enriches our lives like found treasure and causes us to rejoice with the kind of joy that comes from discovering something of extreme value and knowing that we get to keep it for ourselves.

God’s Word also gives us a right perspective and shows us the value of truth. It prompts praise from us as we give thanks to God for what He has revealed to us and what those things in His Word mean to us. It produces peace because we can be right with God and unoffended, knowing we are doing what is pleasing to him. It gives us the hope of salvation and hope in His promises. And finally, it produces obedience. When we know God’s Word and love God’s Word, it will follow that we keep God’s Word. So may we apply the lessons we’ve learned. May we put it all into action. May we, like the psalmist, want nothing more than to be obedient to God’s Word and to live solely for Him.